Automatic generator regulator



Apm 79 1,936o A. COLAN'DUONH 2,036,516

AUTOMATIC GENERATOR REGULATOR Filed Sept. 22, 1933 INVENTOR l @Y mzmf@ ATTOR N EYS Patented Apr. .7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-ICE 1 Claim.

The object of the invention is to provide a device to be used as a part of-an automobile equipment tofunction in conjunction with the charging generaton'so that the latter may be set at a maximum charging rate for the combined load of the lights and battery and the output automatically regulated, so that it is cut down in proportion as the light load, or the load of any other appliance comprised in the equipment, is' cut out of circuit; and to provide a device of the kind indicated which is of simple form, susceptible of cheap manufacture, and of a character that will permit it being installed in any motor vehicle without modication of any of the equipment thereof. Y g

With this object in view, the invention consists in a construction and combinationl of parts of which a preferred embodiment is illustrated in vthe accompanying drawing but to which embodiment the invention is not to be restricted. Continued use in practice may dictate certain changes or alterations and the right Ais claimed to make any which fall within the scope of the annexed claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the invention with the case cover in open position.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the method of connecting the invention in circuit with the electrical equipment oi a vehicle, such as a bus.

In the use of the invention, the third brush I0 of the generator I I is set to provide the maximum output for charging the battery and carrying the additional load of the lights or other appliances which may form a part of the electrical equipment of the vehicle. But in series with the third brush III, so as to be included in the eld circuit of the'generator, is a resistance I2 which is tapped at intermediate points in its length. Preferably the resistance consists of a series of resistance elements I4 Wound on suitable heat insulating cores and serially connected together at their binding posts I5, the whole series of resistances` of each electromagnet is grounded as .indicated at 23 and this connection may be eiected in each instance by connecting the terminal with the metal of the case I9. The other terminal of each magnet is carried to a binding post 24 which is preferably mounted in one side wall of the case I9 from which it is insulated.

The extremities of the resistance I2 which consists of the several resistance elements are connected to the binding posts 25 and 26 mounted in the opposite side wall of the casing I9 from the binding posts 24, these two binding posts being similarly insulated from the case.

In connecting the invention in circuit, the connection between the third brush I0 and the field of the generator I I is split and the two leads thus provided are connected to the binding posts 25 and 26, while the binding posts 24 are connected one each to each of the switches 2l which, in the illustrated embodiment, control respectively the inside lights, the heater, the sign and the head and taillights, it being assumed that the invention in this instance is being used on a bus. But the binding posts 24 are connected to that side of each of the switches 2l to which the controlled devices are connected, or in other words, to those poles of the switches complemental to the poles to which the generator is connected, so that when any one of the switches 2l is closed, its attendant magnet 22 will be simultaneously thrown in circuit, so as to attract its armature 2l and thus eiect the closing operation of the circuit closer shunting that particular increment I4 of the resistance I2.

When all of the switches 2'I are open, the full resistance I2 is eiective in the el-d circuit of the generator, so that its output is reduced to that necessary only to eiTect the charging of the battery 28. When any or all of the switches 21 are closed, either all of the resistance I2 is cut out of circuit, or such increments as are associated with the particular switch 21 which is shifted to closed position. Thus if the switch 2'I controlling the sign be the only one closed, one resistance element I4 is cut -out of circuit and the resistance in the eld circuit is reduced to just the amount which is suiiicient to raise the output of the generator to take care of thc increased current necessary to place the sign lights in circuit. And so it is with any of the other appliances or lights controlled by the different switches 2l.

In order to provide for ne adjustments in initial installation, each binding post I5 carries a metallic strip in the form of a nger 29 bearing upon the surface of the wire constituting the resistance of each resistance element I4. The arm 29 is frictionally supported on the binding post `-and may be swung to bridge two or more of the "convolutions of resistance wire, so as to short-cin' cuit' the same. By this means convolutions of 5` resistance may be cut into or ou'fl of circuit, so that each increment of resistance may be adjusted to a nicety to function to eect the generator ileld circuit in such a way that the output of the generator will be changed to satisfy the current de- 10 mand for the particular appliance associated with 15 motor vehicle and the light circuit thereof consisting of a plurality of switch controlled circuits in multiple, a metallic case mounted in the vehicle, a resistance mounted in said case and comprising a plurality oi.' serially connected resistance elements in series with the eld circuit of the generator, a circuit closer shunting each resistance element and comprising xed and movable contacts, and magnets for which the movable contacts act as armaturesand connected one across each of said multiple circuits, the circuit closers being normally on open circuit and moved to closed circuit only on energization of the magnets, each resistance element being provided with a pivotally mounted nger electrically connected with one terminal, the free extremity oi! the linger being in superficial contact withs the resistance element between the terminals thereof to progressively short-circuit increments or resistance to -eiIect nicety of adjustment.

ALVIN COLANDUONI. 

